Do's and Don'ts

Do check to see if an online pharmacy is listed with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy before you buy. The board documents whether online pharmacies are licensed and in good standing.

Don’t steer clear of buying prescription drugs online because you’re afraid of scams.

Don’t email huge photo files to your friends and family.

Do post pics to a photo sharing website, where you can control who sees them and whether they can print their own copies. Then just email the link.

Don’t buy books online without trying a sample first.

Do take advantage of Amazon’s free Kindle app, available on almost all major mobile devices and computers, to download a sample and see whether a book is worth your money.

Do use descriptive subject lines when posting on Google Groups.

Don’t post your message more than once. If you post to multiple groups, then don’t send each message separately; it’ll only confuse your readers.

Do use programs like HootSuite or TweetDeck to manage your social networks.

Don’t have people send you important messages on Facebook -- unless you log in multiple times daily.

Do look for “https” in the address bar of an online retailer or for a padlock symbol in the lower right-hand corner. This means the site is a verified online business.

Don’t shop online via a public computer. Entering your credit card information on a computer housed in a public space makes it more vulnerable to hackers.

Don't tell the online world when and where you took your photos.

Do turn off the geotagging features in photo sites like Flickr so your photos don't get published with information that could compromise your privacy.

Do choose different personal security questions (aka challenge questions) for each type of service you register for online, especially with financial institutions.

Don't choose typically asked questions like your mother’s maiden name or questions with subjective answers (e.g., “What’s your favorite movie?”) that could change over time.

Do back up your smartphone online (e.g., with iTunes for iPhone backup) so you can easily transport your apps and contacts to a new phone.

Don’t save your data to your phone’s internal storage -- you can lose it all if your phone dies or have to re-enter it manually to upgrade to a new phone.

Do use numbers to convey your strengths and abilities when sending a resume to an online job site. “I wrote 15 stories every day."

Don’t make up those numbers

Do use an online file-storage service like Google Docs to save documents you need to access frequently.

Don’t rely on emailing yourself files back and forth -- you’ll forget at the time you need your files the most.

Do use a URL-shortening service, such as bit.ly, to save space and track when people click on your links.

Don’t post long, complicated URLs that make your online posts hard to read.

Do monitor your social networking accounts so spammers don’t take them over to send bogus messages or pleas for money to your friends.

Don't accept random friend requests on Facebook. If you do, these strangers will be able to use your personal profile data.

Do set strong passwords by using numbers to spell words (e.g., “str8” for “straight”).

Don't use personally identifiable info like your pet's name as your password, no matter how clever it might be.

Do use Hulu to stay current on your favorite TV shows.

Don’t keep paying for satellite or cable when you can watch TV online for free.

Do check your privacy settings on Facebook to see who can view your profile.

Don’t fall for the rumor floating around Facebook status updates that you can safely download an app to see who viewed your profile.

Do stop the minute you see a fake alert, shut down your browser and perform a full scan with the legitimate antivirus product.

Don’t fall for a random pop-up window that claims your computer is infected with a virus.

Do make sure the payment site begins with “https:” to stay secure when buying online.

Don’t buy from sites that don’t provide an actual address and telephone number.

Do use your device in meetings, but let the participants know before doing so; you don’t want them to think you’re ignoring them. Just say, “FYI, I’m going to take notes on my iPad.”

Don’t get annoyed when strangers ask you about the mobile device you’re using. With so many new options out there, it helps to get an opinion from a real person.

Do use Facebook wall postings for quick hellos or comments.

Don’t have entire conversations on a friend’s wall. That’s just annoying for your friend, who has to answer in that small space, and the rest of your friends who have to see it in their feeds.

Do send a note via email if you aren’t close enough to the person to call them.

Don’t use Twitter or Facebook to offer your condolences if the person hasn’t posted about their loss.

Do use the bcc function when emailing a long list of people to protect your list’s privacy.

Don’t skip the subject line, but do keep it brief.

Do buy an iPhone in the fall or winter. Apple usually releases a new version in June or October.

Don’t buy it in the summer. It’ll probably be an older model, and you’ll pay the same price that you would if you were to just wait for the new version.

Do increase your blog traffic by submitting your blog to such directories as Bloggeries, Bloggapedia, Technorati and Blog Search Engine.

Don’t continually respond to a negative comment or post that a reader makes on your blog. While this can increase your search engine rankings, it will also draw more attention to the unwanted comment.

Do check for updates of your downloaded apps in the Android Market to ensure you’re running the most current versions.

Don’t allow tablet or smartphone devices to access your personal data unless you know specifically why they need to.

Do lock your screen (Ctrl+Alt+Del) to protect your info whenever you leave your PC on but unattended.

Don’t leave your iPad or iPhone unprotected if you have sensitive company data on it. Keep your info safe by using the Passcode feature.

Do include only essential info in your emails.

Don’t send one-word emails -- they only fill up inboxes and serve no real purpose. Gauge the situation, and if a follow-up isn’t required, don’t send one.

Do protect your online images from being stolen by adding a free watermark to each.

Don’t post any photos online that you don’t want people to copy under any circumstances.

Don’t buy a deal off Groupon just because it seems like a bargain. Ask yourself whether you’d really pay for this service without the discount.

Do sell your unused deals on DealsGoRound.com, which allows you to unload unused or unwanted Groupons.

Do title the pages on your website in a way that makes sense and is easy for users to find.

Don’t make users download a new browser or plug-in to view your site. It’s unnecessary and will only deter them from viewing your work.

Don’t expect privacy when using your employer’s computer or mobile device. More than 75 percent of companies monitor the websites their employees view, and 50 percent archive employees’ emails.

Do use a tool like PageAddict to monitor your daily online activity and see if you need to cut back.

Do document (off your computer) pertinent information, like the date you bought your PC, its serial number, and manufacturer and ISP phone support numbers.

Don’t upgrade Windows as a way to update an old PC. Instead, buy a new PC (they’re really cheap these days) with the latest version of Windows installed.

Do opt for paperless billing whenever possible. You can save up to $70 a year doing so.

Don’t forget to examine your online bill as carefully as you would a paper one, to avoid overpaying.

Do provide as many details as possible about products you are selling on a site like Craigslist. Clear photos are also essential to entice buyers.

Don’t list an item for more than it’s worth. Buyers are savvier than you think.

Do respond to emails within 48 hours if you are running an online business or selling used goods. Otherwise, you’ll lose sales.

Don’t have a subpar search function on your website if you are selling products. Be sure your search feature can find SKUs, model numbers and even misspelled items.

Do look at several real estate listing sites when searching for a new home online. You may find hidden gems on one site that aren’t featured on another.

Don’t waste time looking at homes out of your price range -- you’ll be able to get prequalified more easily if you are realistic about what you can afford.

Do make money off your blog by featuring relevant ads on it.

Don’t run flashy or blinking ads; they’re annoying and distracting to readers.

Do add useful tips and info to existing locations on foursquare. Sharing your knowledge of cool places is one of the best ways to use location-based social networking.

Don’t accept foursquare friend requests from Facebook friends you don’t know in real life. Do you really want strangers to know where you are at all times?

Do buy a wireless printer if you want to go cable-free.

Don’t buy a wireless adapter if your printer has fax and scan functions. The adapter will only let you print.

Do classify a wireless network as "public" when you connect to Wi-Fi in a coffee shop or public place.

Don’t use the SSID your wireless router came with. Change it as soon as you connect to prevent others from hacking into your connection.

Do wait two to five minutes after charging your Android phone to use it. Doing so will help prolong your phone’s battery life.

Don’t let your apps run continuously, or you’ll drain your battery. Use a free app like Task Killer to close apps you aren’t using.

Do educate yourself on the latest scams on the Internet.

Don't skimp on your firewall. If your operating system came with one, be sure to activate it.

Don't pay to use online banking. Most banks offer it for free.

Do consider Internet-based banks, which only have cyber addresses, rather than a brick-and-mortar storefront. They offer many of the same services as your traditional bank so you can still deposit and get cash.

Do ignore a friend request on Facebook rather than defriending a person later. It's kinder.

Don't send your Facebook friends a barrage of game requests. If they want to play a game, they will.

Do respond when people comment on your updates or photos on Twitter or Facebook. Social media is about engaging in conversation.

Don’t be a “parrot” when making status updates -- frequent updates about the same thing can be annoying to your friends and fans.

Do keep it brief when creating a PowerPoint presentation. Use no more than six bullet points per slide.

Don’t use bright backgrounds, which can be distracting.

Do search the Web for a coupon when you shop online.

Don’t spend hours looking for offers. Saving a few bucks isn’t worth half your day.

Do check a retailer's return policy before buying electronics online. If they don't accept returns, move on.

Don't buy from a retailer whose phone number isn't listed on their site. If you are unfamiliar with the company, call the phone number to verify its accuracy.

Do increase your server limit to ensure your blog can handle traffic from social media sites.

Don’t require visitors to log in to leave a comment, which can deter them from doing so.

Do offer special pricing when selling products online, and throw in an extra product or free shipping.

Don't make your site too complicated. Customers are put off with any more than three steps in the buying process.

Do use compelling subject lines when sending emails to market your company or services. Free offers are often a big draw.

Don't include too much fine print. It makes would-be customers suspicious.

Do check out sites like FreeShipping.org before buying online. You'll often find coupon codes for free shipping.

Don't overpay for shipping. Some sample sale sites offer free shipping on any additional purchases you make in a 24-hour period.

Don't buy a new gaming system the day it's released. You'll save money and get to read user reviews before making the purchase.

Do keep all the boxes and accessories the device came with. If you ever resell it, this will up its value.

Do treat your smartphone like your computer: Make sure the OS and software are up-to-date at all times to decrease your chances of contracting malicious bugs.

Don’t download apps from third-party application repositories, which will increase your chances of being hacked via phone.

Do buy the most powerful computer you can afford when it comes to processing speed

Don’t buy a computer until you know exactly what your needs are, not your wants.

Do dedicate one computer in your house to use for file sharing.

Don’t make this the computer you use for online banking or other sensitive business.

Do log off completely on your online banking site, instead of just closing the window.

Don’t have other browsers open when you’re banking online -- a bug or other vulnerability from one browser could interact with the other.

Don’t add a splash page (intro page users have to click to enter) when designing your site. It only annoys users.

Do ensure your site works with and without the “www” prefix, which will increase your traffic.

Do your research online when buying a car -- sites like Edmunds.com can help.

Don’t buy a car over the Internet without seeing it first. Have you heard of online car buying scams?

Don't pay for how-to information to build a website. Use Google instead: Tons of sites can teach you everything you need, from driving traffic to SEO.

Do spring for a reliable hosting provider such as BlueHost, GoDaddy or Register.com. (And never pay more than $10 annually to maintain your Domain name.)

Do book your travel arrangements online. Doing so by phone can often cost you more in service fees.

Don't assume that you can make lodging reservations 24/7 online. Chances are there isn't a live person there to confirm your booking at 3 a.m.

Do encrypt your work files to prevent thieves from reading your data if your laptop is stolen.

Don't use "qwerty” as your password. Try LastPass.com to come up with a virtually unbreakable keyword.

Do share photos via a cloud service like Flickr rather than emailing them directly to recipients.

Don't forget to back up your photos on a share site, zip drive or external hard drive.

Do only spend 20 percent of your time promoting your products, or people won't follow you.

Don't say anything over Twitter you wouldn't say in person. Both Google and the Library of Congress archive all tweets.

Do message a new contact before you attempt to Skype with them.

Don't rely on just your username when sending someone a Skype message. Be sure to mention how you know them, and include your real name in your profile.

Do include an introductory note when inviting someone to join your LinkedIn network, especially if you've never met the person.

Don't repeatedly try to connect with someone if they haven't responded to your request.

Do put the name of a mutual friend in the subject line of a networking email so it doesn't seem like a "cold call".

Don't use excessive exclamation points or question marks in subject lines, which will target your message as spam.

Do include your birth date on your Facebook profile.

Don't include the year, which could impact how you're perceived professionally.

Do include links to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles with your email signature.

Don't forget to include your phone number as well. Some people still like to communicate the old-fashioned way.

Do take advantage of IM or other chat services if your office allows them.

Don't take it as an opportunity to IM your best work friend every five minutes.

Do respond promptly to emails -- by day's end -- especially if they're work-related.

Don't answer emails when you're in a meeting or out with friends. It's a matter of proper techtiquette.

Don't just post your own ideas on Twitter; make it a place for conversation and sharing.

Do have a healthy ratio of original tweets to @ replies. You’ll build relationships and broaden your network.

Don't dial numbers on your iPhone while you're driving.

Do hold down the home button until you hear a double-beep, then say “Call John Smith, iPhone.” It works even when your phone is locked!

Don't set up your email accounts as POP when you add them to your mobile devices.

Do configure them as IMAP instead. This way, whatever you do on your phone -- delete a message, move it to a new folder -- will sync across all your devices.

Don't drain your iPhone's battery by leaving your apps open. (Apps stay open in the background until you force them to close.)

Do double-click your home button to see all your running apps, then hold your finger on an icon and touch the minus sign to close an app. Your device's battery will last longer.

Don't leave people to wonder why you're not responding to online messages when you're on vacation.

Do set up an auto-reply message, letting them know when you'll be back and who they can contact in the meantime.

Don't forward other people's emails without thinking.

Do stop and consider the sender's position. Would they feel hurt or betrayed if they knew you were forwarding their message?

Do check your privacy settings on photosharing sites to be sure your photos and information are protected.

Don’t post pictures or videos of your kids with their friends unless their parents have given you permission to do so.

Do double-check the Web address you’re on before shopping online.

Don’t shop on sites with domain extensions like .ru, .cc, or .con.

Don’t put your email address on your website, inviting people to contact you.

Do use a contact form with which users can ask you questions and address concerns.

Don’t have 10 pages of icons on your iPhone.

Do create app folders by holding your finger on an app icon until they all wiggle, then dragging one icon on top of another to put multiple in a shared folder.

Don’t upload a bunch of files to Google Docs one by one using the usual multistep upload process.

Do upload files by dragging and dropping them from your computer to the Google Docs homepage.

Don't use all 140 characters if you’re hoping your tweets will be retweeted.

Do leave at least 20 characters unused so others will have room to type “RT” plus your username and a comment.

Don’t print out a boarding pass for your next flight unless you have to.

Do inquire whether your airline can let you check in and board your flight by scanning a code on your mobile phone screen.

Don’t come up short the next time you need a really cool, unique gift.

Do use great cloud photo services, such as Snapfish, to create your own totally customized photo books.

Don’t stress about whether or not your cell phone is actually causing cancer -- yet.

Do use a wired headset so you’re covered either way. Plus, you’ll keep your hands free for other things

Do try YouTube for virtual lessons. Some of the best math tutorials for students can be found there.

Don't forget to have your kid do a little homework this summer using resources found on the cloud (search: “summer learning”) so next year isn't such a shock.

Don't get duped into spending money on extended warranties on electronic devices you buy this summer.

Do read the manual closely on your new electronic device or game.

Don't visit each of your favorite news sites each day.

Do set up a news feed with one of the main portals in the cloud, like Yahoo, to get all your updates in one spot.

Don’t post more than 10 status updates a day on Facebook. (Ten is already a lot.)

Do keep in mind that your Facebook friends like to hear from you, but they don’t want to get that many updates or “likes” or comments from you.

Don’t ignore what your kids are doing on their mobile device.

Do talk to them often to make sure they are not sexting or being cyberbullied.

Don’t forget to set up your outgoing vacation email message when you hit the road this summer.

Do save on your energy bill by unplugging laptops, tablets and other devices you don’t take with you on vacation.

Don’t miss your favorite radio stations when you’re out of town.

Do download an app like TuneIn Radio Pro, which lets you listen to and record more than 40,000 AM and FM radio stations from wherever you are.

Don’t keep clogging your mailbox with hard copies of your favorite magazines.

Do subscribe to the digital edition and read your magazines on a tablet. You’ll save paper and space, and you’ll enjoy some cool multimedia features.

Don’t kick yourself the next time you forget to set your DVR to record a show.

Do see whether your cable provider or DVR manufacturer offers a mobile app that lets you manage your DVR from anywhere. (TiVo and Comcast are two examples.)

Do use hashtags on Twitter so that your tweets get more exposure and attract like-minded followers.

Don’t forget to retweet other tweets that you find interesting or helpful.

Do prevent this problem by using the Allowances feature on iTunes to set a fixed monthly spending allowance.

Don't get blindsided by games and apps that prompt kids to make in-game purchases, which drive up the price.

Do enable Safety Mode on YouTube in order to filter out any inappropriate content that may be seen by your young ones.

Don’t forget that Safety Mode functionality is browser-specific, so you’ll need to turn it on in all of the browsers that your family uses.

Do send your own texts to your teens, if that’s how they like to communicate.

Don’t get offended when your teens complain for the 100th time (as they watch you type a text): “You are the slowest texter in the world!” or “Don’t press so hard on the screen!”

Do limit your list of Facebook friends to a reasonable amount.

Don’t “friend” people you don’t know -- and don’t friend strangers because of their profile pictures.

Do discuss teen sexting with your child. Explain the damage sexting can cause in relationships.

Don’t let kids keep their mobile device in their room at night with them.

Don’t just assume that your child understands online bullying.

Do have clear discussions about what constitutes online bullying behavior and exactly what your child should do if victimized.

Don’t bother with the hash tag (#) if you’re tweeting a simple term. All tweets are search-indexed, so a search for “cloud” will turn up tweets that contain “#cloud” and “cloud.”

Do tweet meaningful thoughts and observations vs. just passing on countless website links to friends.

Don’t pay to download your favorite HBO shows if you’re a channel subscriber.

Do download the free HBO GO app for iOS or Android, and watch a huge selection of programming on demand, wherever you are.

Do check out a company's Twitter feed to see whether they respond to customer service requests that way. You might get a faster resolution.

Don't give up hope for responsive customer service if you can't reach person via the phone.

Do check out Lendle.me, a site that crowd-sources the borrowing and lending of lendable Kindle e-books.

Don't pay for books that others might be able to lend you for free.

Do hide all of your recipients by adding them to the bcc area and putting your own address in the “to” field.

Don't send mass emails that leave your contacts’ email addresses exposed for anyone to see. Spammers are always looking for legitimate email addresses.

Do download a free app like Expensify, which can help you record your expenses on the road and even snap pics of receipts.

Don't risk losing important receipts that you may need for your records.

Do download a free program like NutshellMail, which consolidates all those notifications and delivers them when you tell it to.

Don't get constantly distracted from your work by social media notifications.

Do turn on the new “two-factor authentication” feature, which requires you to enter a code every time you log on.

Don't worry about someone else hacking into your Facebook account.

Do keep your Facebook profile picture somewhat professional. Your co-workers are most likely going to look you up and see it, even if they don’t have access to the rest of your profile.

Don't use a photo of you in costumes or bathing/wet suits -- they’re fun, but unprofessional.

Do make sure your resume is easy to read on screen before you begin applying to jobs: Keep the type flush left and make line spacing consistent.

Don't snail-mail your resume -- HR is much more likely to look at an electronic copy than a paper one.

Do keep receipts and double-check your bank statements. If you get overcharged, call the retailer immediately and ask them to correct the error.

Don’t reload confirmation pages when shopping online -- you might be charged twice.

Do use cookies to save time when logging in to trusted sites you use often.

Don’t forget to set up cookie alerts on your browser, which allow you to choose which sites can store your personal logins.

Don’t dispose of old electronics without finding out whether they have resale value at sites like Gazelle.com.

Do compare the going rates on eBay to make sure you’re getting a fair price for your item.

Do take advantage of public Wi-Fi networks for easy, convenient browsing on the go.

Don’t make purchases or log in to websites that hold high-risk information (like your bank account) while accessing public Wi-Fi.

Do check out charities on the Better Business Bureau website before donating.

Don’t be conned into giving money to charity organizations that aren’t legitimate.

Do check Snopes.com when you get an email that wants you to believe a fishy story.

Don’t fall for email forwards that sound too good or bizarre to be true.

Do check social buying sites like Groupon and LivingSocial for deals in your destination city. Start a month or two before your trip.

Don’t pay full price for food and activities when you go on vacation.

Don’t fret if you can’t find a local book club you enjoy.

Do join Goodreads, the social network for book lovers, and join a virtual book club.

Don’t leave your Twitter account at risk of hacking.

Do log in, go to “Settings” and check “Always use HTTPS” at the bottom of the page.

Don’t write the same text over and over when you want to send it to multiple people.

Do use a group texting service, such as GroupMe or Beluga.

Do download a free iPhone app like ICE Lite , which stores your personal contact info and your top three emergency contacts for quick reference.

Don’t ever use Skype for emergency calling to 911 -- it won’t work.

Do consolidate all your charging needs with a tiny portable gadget like Powerstick, which works with MP3 players, cell phones and PDAs.

Don’t drain battery life needlessly. Turn off certain connections when not needed (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).

Do use a browser like Firefox, which enables you to save open tabs and continue browsing where you left off.

Don’t miss out on helpful add-ons like Aging Tabs, which denotes how long tabs have been open and highlights the current tab in use.

Don’t spend your money on the first generation of a fancy new smartphone.

Do wait for the second generation, when the product will have fewer kinks, cooler features and maybe a lower price.

Don’t set up an automated “Thanks for following me” message on Twitter.

Do thank new followers with a personal message that shows you took the time to recognize them.

Don’t leave your online reputation open to interpretation.

Do create your own profile page at About.me, which helps you aggregate your entire online identity.

Do use email for networking.

Don’t use your work email account or work computer for networking.

Do change your passwords every 90 days.

Don’t use the same password for social networks that you do for your bank accounts.

Do file your taxes online through a service like Free File, TurboTax or TaxACT.

Don’t use a service that doesn’t make major yearly upgrades.

Don’t think that LinkedIn is just for growing your network.

Do take advantage of the site’s social interaction capabilities, such as Groups.

Do save money by using social coupon sites like Groupon to buy gifts.

Don’t forget to check the coupon date before buying -- most online coupon deals have an expiration date.

Don’t risk harming your credibility by retweeting someone’s link without looking at it first.

Do always click on a link before you retweet it to make sure the content is what was promised.

Don’t forget that your smartphone can be a tool for healthy eating.

Do check to see whether the restaurant you’re eating at has an app that includes nutritional data so you can eat healthy on the go.

Don’t worry about where your teenager is when he’s out late at night.

Do use an online service such as Glympse , which shares your teen’s location with you via a phone GPS.

Don’t forget that LinkedIn isn’t like Facebook; people can know when you’ve viewed their profiles.

Do change your LinkedIn “Profile Views” setting under “Privacy Settings” to ensure that other users aren’t notified that you’ve viewed their profiles.

Do save on stamps by using online banking to send checks -- and if the check gets lost in the mail, the bank will usually take full responsibility for correcting the situation.

Don’t sign up for automatic drafting with your bank unless your bills are exactly the same every month.

Do go the bottom of your news feed, click on “Edit Options,” then select “Show posts from all of your friends and pages.”

Don’t miss your friends’ posts because of one of Facebook’s default settings.

Don’t fall for job scams. If a post looks too good to be true, verify it on PhishBucket.org, which lists thousands of fake offers.

Do use sites like CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com and Indeed.com to look for a job.

Don’t forget that some airlines don’t offer their fares via discount travel sites such as Travelocity.

Do check all the top sites, including airlines’ proprietary sites, to see whether they offer the best deals themselves.

Do create an Internet safety game-plan for your family so that all members are on the same page.

Don’t forget to post the agreement near all shared computers.

Don’t throw your e-waste (computers, cell phones and other personal electronics) in the trash.

Do use a website like EcoSquid.com to help you pinpoint e-recycling locations and donation opportunities.

Do visit FreeShipping.com before making an online purchase. If the retailer you’re buying from participates, you’ll save on shipping.

Don’t buy anything online without looking for a coupon code first. Sites like DealNews.com , CouponCabin.com and RetailMeNot.com specialize in saving you money.

Do download a program like Freedom, which can help you control the amount of time you waste online.

Don’t waste time playing just any online game. Instead, procrastinate for a cause by playing FreeRice.com, a word game that donates rice to the United Nations’ World Food Programme.

Do pay by credit card when shopping online. You’ll be better protected against fraud.

Don’t use your debit card, however: It doesn’t offer the same protection as a credit card does.

Don’t waste time each day visiting every blog you read.

Do save time by using a feed, such as Google Reader, to read all your favorite blogs from one spot.

Don’t be fooled when traveling: International calling will cost you a fortune.

Do use Skype on your smartphone to avoid huge phone bills when you’re out of the country.

Do use a service like HootSuite to keep tabs of all of your social networking accounts in one place.

Don’t waste valuable 140-character real estate by tweeting full URL’s when you can use a link shortener like Ow.ly

Do disable automatic login features, which capture your username and password, when logging onto sites on a shared computer.

Don’t unknowingly leave traces of your activity; be sure to clear any cookies and browsing history before leaving.

Do comparison-shop with the Windows Shopper app by Superfish. The app gives you comparative prices on similar items from across the Web.

Don’t try to use the app with Safari, Chrome or Netscape browsers -- it’s only available on Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Do get the new “Worlds of Warcraft” patch if you’re a gamer.

Don’t get the malware-infected patch from RatingBuster.com.

Do get spyware software that updates automatically.

Don’t click on pop-up advertisements, which often contain spyware that can track your passwords or lift your private information without you knowing!

Poll

What do you use the Web for the most?

	Banking
	Shopping
	Social networking
	News
	Gaming